Punjab, Haryana Chief Ministers greet devotees on Gurpurab

Chandigarh: The Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday extended greetings on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev here. The festival was celebrated with religious and traditional fervour in both the states, with a large number of people thronging the Gurdwaras in the region early morning to pay obeisance to the founder of Sikhism and the first of the Sikh gurus.

The devotees also took part in 'Langars' and 'Shabad Kirtans', besides taking dips in the 'Sarovars'.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal greeted people on the religious day saying that "the first Sikh Guru showed the path of salvation by spreading the cult of devotion to God and message of love, compassion and spirituality amongst mankind."

The Guru, he further said, envisioned a caste less society free of rituals in order to attain salvation.

"Guru Nanak Dev ji's teachings are still relevant today especially in the present complex and materialistic society", he added.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here also extended his greetings to the people of Haryana on the occasion.

Khattar said that the festival symbolizes social unity and equality, adding that "Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji led a life of faith and devotion and dedicated himself to the cause of the poor irrespective of caste, creed and religion."

The devotees thronged the Gurudwaras at various places including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mohali, Anandpur Sahib, and Bathinda, while in Haryana they paid obeisance at places including Kurukshetra, Ambala, Sirsa, Karnal and Yamunanagar.

Guru Nanak Dev was born at Nankana Sahib near Lahore in Pakistan in 1469. He spent 14 years of his early life at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district.

A large number of Sikhs from Punjab and other places crossed the border to Pakistan to pay homage at the religious site of Nankana Sahib.